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Monday, December 30, 2013

There wasn't any snow on Christmas, but there was a beautiful frost that
covered everything! Also, Hugh got baptized! It was a beautiful
service. So many people came and supported. Hugh even requested to give
the closing prayer at his own baptism- and it was such an amazing
prayer. He was confirmed on Sunday and is just glowing!

It was so good to see you guys! I'm surprised that I
didn't feel homesick at all the whole Christmas season. The members took
care of us. So many invited us over to spend time with them. We even
had a family take us out to a Chinese buffet for Christmas dinner (A
Christmas Story anyone?) And thank you to everyone for all of the
presents! You are all so thoughtful- rest assured thank you's are in the
mail.

I'm running low on time. So I'm just gonna throw out random thoughts from this week:

I
finished reading "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" by Clayton M.
Christiansen in 4 days. That book is so good! I'm going to start
teaching members stuff from that book. I've been recommending it to
every family we see.

This week we picked up a new investigator who we
haven't met yet. The sister's in another ward have been teaching him for
a bit but he actually lives in our area so we will take over. We meet
him on New Year's Eve in the afternoon. We told our ward mission leader
and he knows the guy! His name is Russ Lucki. Apparently he used to be a nudist... how funny!
I'm getting to teach the most interesting people! haha.

We picked up the Render's granddaughter as an investigator and taught
her this last week. She's pretty shy but has a lot of interest and
intent. Caity is a sweetheart and has been through the foster care system so she has a lot of healing that I hope we can help her with in some way. Other than her we didn't have many other lessons.

My slipping and falling on ice count is currently at one. The Smith's driveway won. And
I'm sure it will be in the double digits by the time winter is over.

One of the McDowell's 50 dogs bit me this last week. Luckily it was on my boot. But I was still pretty mad about it.

We put Steven (the Ackaret's oldest grandson) on
date for baptism on January 11th. We had a very honest conversation with
the grandparents at the children's conversion happening at different
paces, and how we don't want to push any of them into it. But we also
talked about how baptism is a step we take in faith and our conversion
deepens as we continue to follow Christ. It went so well. And Steven was
just grinning ear to ear! He was so excited! I can just see him going
on a mission in 2 years :) We're continuing working with the
grandparents and each of the grandkids.

We helped a family move this week. They're the family
that is first to volunteer to help others but won't ask anyone else for
help. So Sister Dickerman and I just showed up at their house. We were
the only ones who knew they were moving. It was nice to serve a family
like that!

A boy in our ward, Brady Smith (his mom is the one
who called you guys), got a facebook message from a friend of his. It
said "I need your help. How do I become Mormon?" Brady talked to her
about reading the Book of Mormon, praying, coming to church, and doing
things to know for herself if it's true. And he told her that there are
some great sister missionaries in 9 Mile who can teach her how to do
those things. How crazy is that?? So we are trying to set up a time to
meet with Chelsea this next week. Miracles happen all the time out here!!!

Well, sorry this email was random. But I love you all and hope you have a wonderful New Year!!!!!

Monday, December 23, 2013

So- the coolest thing happened this week! I received a call from one of
the sister's serving in our stake. She was told that the Marshallese Branch
has a deaf member going to their ward and a deaf girlfriend that he has
been bringing that wants to hear the discussions. There aren't any
signing missionaries serving out here right now- we had one but he just
went home. So Sister Call and I will be teaching her the first
discussion in sign language! HOW COOL?? But remember I took one semester
of sign language 5 years ago? haha. It was rough at first, I'm a bit
rusty. We found a member in a ward who is hard of hearing and knows sign
fluently- she even signed some on her mission 20 years ago. Well Sister
Call and I have gone to her a few times to have her teach us the first
discussion in sign. Half of the signs are brand new to me, but it's
crazy how many things are coming back! By our second session of
practicing, Sister Howard was really proud of me! I have all the signs
down for the first discussion- I just need to work on my facial
expressions... and I need to help Sister Call get the signs down so it's
not just me teaching during the lesson. But how exciting is this?? If
the girl is a real serious investigator we'll figure out a way to get
someone who knows sign fluently to teach her. But still. I'm so excited!
So we'll be texting the girl later this week to set up an appointment.
I'll be sure to let you know what happens.

We had a TON of success just knocking on people's doors
this week. We just told people we wanted to share a Christmas message
from the Bible. We got into a few houses that way (way more than usual).
We went to one house and the lady opened the door and said "Oh! The
sister's! Come in!" I'm thinking- is this lady a Mormon and we just
don't have her records? Apparently the elders were coming 5 years ago
and helping her out with a chess club or something? But she broke out
some sparkling cider and Lindor truffles and brought in her children
and asked us to share a message about Christ! We were so taken back! And
she said we could come back any time we wanted. Her name was Hero and
she's the only Asian I've seen out here. I'm excited to go back and
teach her again. We also had a referral to teach a guy WAY out in the
sticks this week. He's a police officer and his coworker who is a member
asked him if missionaries could go share a Christmas message. What an
easy invitation! Why don't more people take advantage of this time of
year? So we called and set up and appointment with him and said we'd
help him with his burn piles. Long story short he doesn't have a belief
in God, so we were answering a lot of questions like "Why would God
allow so many bad things to happen?" And "Why would we have to have a
Savior? Couldn't God just forgive us instead of allowing His son to
suffer?" He had great questions and we answered them the best we could.
In the end we shared a message about Christ as our Savior and how to
keep Christ in Christmas. He still isn't interested in religion, but has
nothing but great things to say about the Mormons he knows. Seeds were
planted.

Sister Dickerman went to see the Ackaret's and their
grandkids, The Langton's, this last week while we were on exchanges- so I didn't get
to see them. We were wanting to put them on date for Dec. 28th. The 2
boys are ready, but the 12 year old girl needs more time. But what I
heard happen was that the boys said they know the Book of Mormon is the
word of God and that they know the church is true, but the grandpa shut
them down and said they need to read the whole Book of Mormon. When the
grandpa converted in his early 20's it was a long process. It took him 3
years and he'd read the Book of Mormon several times. He doesn't
realize that every one receives their confirmation at a different time
frame and in a different way. So we're working with the ward council on
having some adults talk with the grandparents. We need to help the
grandparents renew their testimony and in the meantime we'll keep
working with Steven, Austin, and MaKenna. They are going to all of the
youth activities and Steven has been to 3 full weeks of early morning
seminary. I have high hopes for these kids!

We went to see Hugh a few times this week and he's
doing awesome! He's so excited to be baptized. And when we told him
about going to the temple to do baptisms he got so excited and starting
listing everyone he wants to do work for. I love that man! He has become
so converted and is so eager to learn and improve. I can't wait for his
baptism on Wednesday! And sooo many people in the ward will be coming!

This last Sunday I sang in the ward choir (well I've
been singing in it since I got here) But we performed yesterday. We
sang " O Come, Emanuel" and "Will you come with me to Bethlehem". Then
in relief society I sang in a trio with 2 other women in our ward
"Mary's Lullaby" and I sang second soprano. It was really pretty!
Clearly this paragraph was just for mom- sorry to everyone else who had to
read it :)

Neil L. Andersen will be coming out here on January
11th. All of the missionaries in our mission are getting together for a
special meeting with him. How lucky am I? I love life!

I'm so grateful for this time in my life that I can focus on others and
on strengthening my own testimony. My prayers have become so much more
sincere. I want to echo what Breanne said- I feel so in tune with the
spirit and just sensitive to so many things! I cry when I watch Mormon
Messages. I cry when I bare my testimony. I cry when I'm listening to
sacrament talks. I cry when I sing. I even cry while praying. I am just
overcome with gratitude so often. Apparently the spirit manifests itself
in me through tears. But it's great! I never want this to go away!

I got 2 packages from mom, one from Sister
Morrisette, one from Breanne, and Christmas cards from Ginny, Elise, and
Jensa. (Just so you know what I've gotten so far). Thank you to
everyone! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! I'm excited to talk to
you on Wednesday! Breanne and I will Skype each other for a few minutes when she
gets done with you guys. So plan on my "calling" a little after 3pm
Boise time. Yay!!!

I love you!!!!

-Sister Metcalf

Why build a snowman when you can build a cake for Jesus?‏

The Golden Plates and Liahona

It took us a few weeks to finish this 1000 piece puzzle- we did a little bit each day on our breaks‏

awkward district pictures

Monday, December 16, 2013

Seriously. Where is it? It is freezing here! Well, below freezing. And no
snow! It's just brown and dead and gross! Bleh. I hope it comes by
Christmas Day! Speaking of. I am able to Skype with you guys starting at
2 my time so 3 Boise time. I emailed mom about doing a test webcam
session with the lady in my ward who is letting us come over. Just to
clarify mom- Skype is a webcam program. I won't be calling by phone at
all. Just webcamming. :) Hopefully Breanne can line up her time around
the same as mine so I can talk to her too and so your day isn't so spread
out. Although you may be bored of talking to missionaries all day.

This week we visited a lot of members. And we have been
trying to get into homes while tracting with the approach of sharing a
Christmas message from the Bible. Only one taker so far. But we'll keep
trying. Everyone should invite someone, anyone to come to sacrament next
week for Christmas. There will be such a wonderful spirit there with
the music and speakers I'm sure! Plenty of people choose to go to church
once a year on Christmas- why not invite them to do it at ours?

We took Steven and Austin Langton (Ackaret's grandkids) on a church tour this last week. We had a lesson with them
afterwards. Brother Braun our YM president and 2 of the youth (Seth
Abrams and Tanner Hardy) They're great member missionaries and fellowshippers. We had a lesson with the whole family later in the week
that was a little rushed because they forgot we were coming and were
about to start dinner. We're hoping to put them on date for a baptism on
the 28th of December! How great would that be? 4 baptisms in one week?!
Hopefully everything keeps working out. We also had 3 lessons with Hugh
this week. I can't help but smile when I think of him! He just lights
up when you talk about his baptism. He was talking to us about how he
can feel the adversary working against him. Then he went on to tell us
that when he feels that, he just prays until the feeling goes away. What
an incredible man! The way he talks about the scriptures and how he
feels as he's been keeping the commandments let's me know that he is a
lifelong convert. That's what makes me the happiest! Not that he will be
baptized and is another number. No. But that he has been changed by the
atonement of Jesus Christ and wants to continue living this way because
he sees the happiness and joy it is bringing to his life! We are
meeting with him a few more times this week and his baptismal interview
is on Friday. This man is ready. And I'm so excited for him and his
family!

We had a zone training on Tuesday and another one on
Thursday while President Mullen came out and interviewed us all. It was
fun to tell him about all of the miracles that have been happening in
this area. The Render's got custody of their granddaughter, Caity, and we will
start teaching her this week. She already wants to be baptized.

This week for service we did some more painting, put
together a bookshelf, split wood (with an axe! I was actually surprised
at how good I was at it! haha.) We also had a relief society Christmas
dinner that we helped set up for. There were a bunch of less actives
there, which is just as exciting as having non members! :)

I love you all so much! This year for Christmas I
would love for you to send me your testimony and what it's grown in this
year. You can email it or write it out and mail it. But that's what I
really want!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Wow you guys! What a week! We only had 20 lessons, but man was it a
great week. We picked up 4 new investigators. That's basically four more
than the last 2 transfers. haha.

So I've mentioned
the Ackaret family before in the past. Sister Wood and I found them our
second week here and started meeting with them regularly. And I've
emailed about mini miracles that they've been a part of. They took in
their grandkids a few months ago (a month or so after we found them)
out of necessity. Their daughter who left the church and is into drugs
was gonna take them all to a homeless shelter. So the grandparents,
although they're not really in a position to, took them in. The ward has
really stepped in and helped them out with getting beds and clothes for
them. They were living with their mom's boyfriend before but apparently
he kicked them out pretty abruptly and they couldn't even take their
things with them. Well the young men and women in our ward have just fellowshipped them like crazy; befriending them at school, bringing them
to mutual, taking the oldest boy to seminary. It's been so great!
Because of this, the kids have interest in learning about the church. So
we started teaching them this week and they want to be baptized! It's
been so cool watching the transformation in the grandparents as we've
been meeting with them. They started out saying they don't need to come
to church to show faith, to saying they should go more and read the Book
of Mormon more, to asking when church meets so they can come, to coming
to church yesterday and bringing their 3 grand kids! The grandparents
are bearing their testimony to the kids and encouraging them to
investigate and read. This will be such a great strength for the family.
I'm so excited about them. They have so many questions- mainly about
how the Holy Ghost works and how they will know it's true. This is so
exciting! SO with those 3 and Hugh (who will be baptized Christmas Day),
that made 4 investigators in church! We reached our goal! I mean, I had
faith that it would happen, I just thought I'd have to be more patient
to see it! I'm so blessed.

Also, while at church we had a few other non members
that came. One is Evangeline. She is friends of one of our ward
missionaries daughter who is on a mission. They were over at her house
talking to the parents and mentioned how they were in choir and
Evangeline asked if she could come. So she came to practice and stayed
for all of church. She's 21 and would have to go to the YSA ward. But
our ward missionary, Sister Tenny, thinks they can get the whole family
to take discussions. So we are waiting a bit longer on inviting her. Her
whole family (mom, dad, and 5 kids) will be in sacrament on the 22nd to
hear her perform. And apparently other men in our ward have been
inviting the dad to activities for years. We have high hopes for that
family. But that's not the coolest part. Another older active couple in
our ward is working on getting custody of their 13 year old grand
daughter who has already asked if she could be baptized! So we may be
teaching her in a week or so. They go to court Friday, so hopefully
we'll know by Sunday when we see them. Last miracle from church. A 14
year old boy in our ward has been inviting his friend to scouts and
church and he has been coming for a few weeks. He wants to be baptized.
His mom and him both came to the ward Christmas party and she is the
nicest woman I have ever met! The Johnston family is going to invite
them to take the lessons and talk to her about him wanting to get
baptized. What? So crazy! #everymissionary'sdream

Just to boast about my ward a little bit more.
Although we've only had one convert baptism this year, they have been
working so hard! There are 7 other baptisms that occurred where the
missionaries taught the people or family in our ward members home but
since they lived in another ward boundary and the other ward baptized them.
So while it looks like they haven't had much success, they have! Just 2
weeks ago our bishop gave a Book of Mormon to his coworker with his
testimony in it. She started taking the discussions and is getting
baptized this Saturday! And our bishop challenged everyone in PEC to
carry a pass along card in their pocket and promised they'd have an
opportunity to give it to someone. Our Elder's Quorum president had an
amazing experience with a woman flying to Boise. She committed to take
the discussions. Maybe she'll be in Breanne's boundaries? ;)

I got acupuncture again this week on a different
part of my back. I'll spare you the pictures this time! haha. It's well
below freezing here! In the teens during the day and single digits at
night. With wind chill is gets to about 20 below in the late evening.
I'm bundling up. But a great gift to get me for Christmas would be those
little hand and feet warmer packs. I've gone through all the ones I
had. Shocker.

I love you all so much. Reflect this time of year on
the greatest gift we have been given. Our Savior was born and He
suffered and died for all of us so that we may live with Him and
our families again. What could you possibly give to Him in return? More
time devoted to him (prayer, scripture study, church, callings), serving
others, be a little kinder, etc. Think about what gifts He would like
you to give this year. The Mormon message this month is perfect!
Everyone needs to watch it. We've been sharing it with everyone-
members, people we tract into, less actives. It reminds you of the true
spirit of Christmas!

I love you all! I can't wait to webcam with the fam on Christmas Day. I'll give you details on the time next week!

Monday, December 2, 2013

I wanted to tell all of you how grateful I
am for you. Every single one of you! I love you all and am so grateful
for the influence you've had in my life. Each house we went to on
Thanksgiving I shared that with them. And how I'm grateful to know that
Heavenly Father has a plan for us to all return to live with Him again.

Thanksgiving was great! We started off at 1pm with
dinner and dessert at the Ackaret's. They're so great! They've had a
rough life and their 3 non member grandchildren just moved in with them.
They haven't been to church in maybe 10 years, but they're expressing a
desire to return. The kids are getting involved in young men and young
women and the ward is just taking them in. It's so great to watch. And
they wouldn't be progressing nearly as much without the help of the ward
members. They really feel loved. Then we went to Hope and Hugh
Brunette's at 3pm. They had their kids over- the Schulze's (Gavin who we
baptized in September is one of their kids) and the Herrmann's. We
taught a fun lesson on gratitude to all of the kids while we were there
and skipped dessert. Then at 4:30 we had dinner at Wendy Gassner's with
her husband, non member son and his girlfriend. Three dinners! And each
of those people thought we were only eating at their house, so they
LOADED us with food. I felt so sick. Before we went into each house we
said a prayer and asked that we'd be able to eat a lot. And it worked.
No one threw up! haha. Then at 6 we went to the Hadlock's for dessert
and at 7:30 we went to the Johnston's for dessert. The only time I
thought I couldn't handle it anymore was eating a piece of apple pie at
the Johnston's at the very end of the night. I thought that I wouldn't
need to eat for a week, but sure enough I woke up the next morning and
had breakfast. It snowed on black Friday... then it rained 2 days later
and melted it all. Why won't the snow just stick? I want to take pretty
pictures!!!

We had another lesson at the Hadlock's this week on
repentance with an activity for the kids but scripture study for the
parents. It was so fun. And while we were there she tried to sneak a
picture of me to send to her brother who is 26 and just got back from a
mission. If anything, this is just proof that mom isn't the only one
trying to set people up with missionaries. haha! I absolutely love that
family though. Brother Hadlock apologized for not making it to church
last week, and he came this week! I'm really happy to see the great
changes going on in their family :)

The other night we went to a member's house to eat-
we've been in a member's home each night and I LOVE IT! .... except I
didn't like it the other night. We had split pea soup. You guys. Split
pea soup isn't yummy. But alas, I ate an entire bowl. And I didn't gag-
you'd be proud. But let it be known, I will never eat it again. Bleh!

We also got a new car this last week! It's a 2014
Corolla. Here's what I'm excited about: Incredible turning radius.
Whenever we 3 point turn the other companion has to get out behind the
car and back you up. It's obnoxious. And our Chevy Cruise had horrible
turning radius so we were getting out all the time. Other than that, I
don't really care. I mean its nice that it's so clean, and has a sweet
touch screen system. But at this point, that isn't a priority for me
lol. We had to drive down to the mission office to give them our old car
and grab the new one. Guess who left the house key on the ring? So we
had to drive down to the valley the next day to get it. Because of that
we ended up running short on our allotted miles, so on the last day of
the month we were riding our bikes around. Brother Hyer in my ward fixed
my bike for me. He put a new tube in it and apparently the back tire
wasn't attached right, and he fixed the brakes. It works now! Finally...
18 weeks in. But it was fun to ride around and stop and talk to people
on our bikes.

Sister Hyer's brother in law was in town for the
holidays and he was a seminary and institute teacher for 35 years. So
she decided to put on a fireside for nonmembers and less actives and
have him speak at it. It was great! We had a few less actives come and 2
non members. One will potentially be an investigator. It's so great
that members are taking the initiative and putting on different things
to find people for us! I love this ward! And our ward mission
leader invited someone to sing in the choir with us (I'm doing ward
choir..have been since I got here) and she stayed for all of church.
Gotta love it.

Which brings me to the best news.... transfers.....
I'm staying in 9 Mile with Sister Dickerman!!! This will be her last
transfer. But we are so excited! I had this feeling that I might be
leaving the area and was so sad about it. I'm glad I get to stay! I feel
like we're making so much progress with some of the less active
families. And I get to be here for Hugh's baptism on Christmas Day! He's
having it at 5pm Washington/ California time. So when I figure out
where we are going for Christmas I will let you know what time will work
for skyping. I can't wait to hear voices of loved ones rather than just
read emails! Yay!

I love you all so much! Focus on all of the
wonderful blessings in your life. God loves you all! If you don't know
that already, pray to know it. He will give you an answer.

Con amor,

Sister Metcalf

biking

The Hadlock's

out tracting

eating candy canes

treats that were sent in a package to me! :)

The Ackaret's on Thanksgiving‏

Wendy and Vince Gassner (Wendy is on her tip toes)‏

After district meeting- yes that's my trophy on the far right for winning another scripture chase :)

snowing again!

At Hope and Hugh Brunette's with the Schulze's and Herrmann's- Hugh in the glasses and red plaid will be baptized on Christmas and Gavin is in maroon right in front of him (his grandson who we baptized in September)